WARNING: Marijuana may make your brain grow

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Published online: 13 October 2005; | doi:10.1038/news051010-12
Marijuana may make your brain grow
Cannabinoid injections sprout new neurons in mice.
Geoff Brumfiel







One synthetic cannibinoid has the same effect on part of the brain as antidepressants.

© Punchstock

Most addictive drugs inhibit the growth of new brain cells. But injections of a cannabis-like chemical seem to have the opposite effect in mice, according to new research. Experts say that the results, if borne out by further studies, could have far-reaching implications for addiction research and the application of marijuana in medicine.

For several years now, researchers have been interested in how drugs affect a part of the brain known as the hippocampus. This region is unusual in that it can grow new neurons throughout a person's lifetime. Researchers have theorized that these new cells help to improve memory while combating depression and mood disorders.

Many drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and alcohol, inhibit the growth of new cells in the hippocampus, which scientists believe could emotionally destabilize addicts. Understanding how drugs affect the hippocampus may have a critical role in treating addiction.

It makes marijuana look more like an antidepressant and less like a drug of abuse.

Amelia Eisch
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas



Neuropsychologist Xia Zhang and a team of researchers based at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, aimed to find out just how marijuana-like drugs, known collectively as cannabinoids, act on the brain.

Expanding the mind

The researchers injected rats with HU210, a synthetic drug that is about one-hundred times as powerful as THC, the high-inducing compound naturally found in marijuana. They then used a chemical tracer to watch new cells growing in the hippocampus.

They found that HU210 seemed to induce new brain cell growth, just as some antidepressant drugs do, they report in the Journal of Clinical Investigation1. This suggests that they could potentially be used to reduce anxiety and depression, Zhang says. He adds that the research might help to create new cannabinoid-based treatments.

"I think it's a very exciting study," says Amelia Eisch, an addiction researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "It makes marijuana look more like an antidepressant and less like a drug of abuse."

Eisch adds that much more work must be done before scientists can reach any definitive conclusions about the benefits and costs of marijuana. First and foremost, researchers need to establish that THC has the same positive effects as the synthetic HU210. Then they must develop more sophisticated experiments to firm up the correlation between neuron growth in the hippocampus and emotional balance.


Finally, she says, scientists must understand why cannabinoids have a different effect on the brain than other addictive drugs.

Although his findings point to potential benefits of smoking pot, Zhang says that he does not endorse its use. "Marijuana has been used for medicine and recreation for thousands of years," he says. "But it can also lead to addiction."

He says his group's next studies will examine this more unpleasant side of the drug. Other addiction researchers will be keenly interested in the results, because this cannibinoid acts so differently on the hippocampus than other drugs.



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References
Jiang W., et al. J. Clin. Invest., (published online) doi: 10.1172/JCI25509(2005). | PubMed |

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[PaulM]

Very interesting article... looks like it could even lead to developments in the treatment of mental patients.

cheers,
Paul

[tommywho70x]

What's most interesting is that psychiatric chemotherapy using cannabinoids is the most taboo topic in discussion of 'Medical Marijuana'.

Pain, Nausea, Glaucoma; cool.

A euphoric, sedative or tranquilizer; forget it.

[sojustask]

In some ways, it looks like we are seeing the beginnings of Government sponsored marijuana use. We know the only reason it was made illegal is because they can't "control" it's production and make the profit. But now if they can show that it's helpful, refine it into pill form and charge us for it, Bingo! Legal Marijuana.

This will be most interesting to watch develop.

Namaste'

Lady Mod

[dchristie]

In some ways, it looks like we are seeing the beginnings of Government sponsored marijuana use. We know the only reason it was made illegal is because they can't "control" it's production and make the profit. But now if they can show that it's helpful, refine it into pill form and charge us for it, Bingo! Legal Marijuana.

This will be most interesting to watch develop.

Namaste'

Lady Mod

Continuing to persecute some for what they choose to put in their bodies is a page taken directly out of the Soviet play book. This country ceased to be the nation of our forebears in 1914 with the Harrison Food and Drug Act.

Americans have a long standing tradition of disobeyance of un-just and un-constitutional laws. The fascist scum who have hijacked the government and perpetuate these illegal "laws" due to the complicity and apathy of American lemmings will never be able to quell the independence of REAL Americans who will continue to break their tyrannical laws, if for nothing more, than the sake of the principle itself.

[CrackInMyPocket]

It sounds like they are trying to market a cheap knock-off of marinol. Prescription only unless you are a hustler

[umdkook]

cmon now0----pill form---half the fun is actually smoking it

[sojustask]

It sounds like they are trying to market a cheap knock-off of marinol. Prescription only unless you are a hustler

Growing it will still be cheaper and people will still take the chance of getting busted. Can't say that I really blame them, unless you are caught with the stuff in your car if you are stopped for a traffic violation or on your body in a place you shouldn't have it on you at, the chances of getting busted are very small.

And there's always the legal forms of it from Hawaii. Just do a search on legal marijuana. ;)

Namaste'

Lady Mod

[umdkook]

there are actually many states that have legalized marijuana for medical reasons.

even tight wad Pennsylvania has a few people on the list who are medically allowed to have it.

i do beleive the numbers for many of the states that have legal medical marijuana are in the single digits or low double digits

[sojustask]

There are marijuana alternatives, that you smoke, just like marijuana, that are legal. There is zero legislation against these alternatives, so one can get a similar "buzz" without breaking the law and you don't need a prescription.

Lady Mod

[Strangerso]

Hi. I completely agree. I would even call marijuana a panacea. I know that it is effective for pain, depression or anxiety. But I was really surprised when I've found out that cbd oils for arthritis are also really effective, I mean it's not only killing pain, you also feel better which is strange a little bit but I am really glad that it is so.

[topcbdbrands]

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